IN THIS ISSUE
Facebook    Twitter
topOELMA  NEWS
An Official E-Newsletter of the 
Ohio Educational Library Media Association -  Winter 2015
DECEMBER  2015 
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Angela Wojtecki
From Your OELMA President:

It has been such a busy and exciting few months in OELMA and it hard to believe my year as President is almost ending. I have learned so much more than I ever anticipated about myself as a leader and one of the biggest perks about being your President is getting to know many of you and networking with you on a variety of topics and projects. My biggest advice to each of you is to say YES more when asked to help with OELMA...even if you are unsure of what you are saying yes to. Saying yes to OELMA leadership has been one of the best journeys for me as a professional school librarian and opened doors I didn't even know existed. 

With the AASL Conference in Columbus, I must say a HUGE thank you to all of you who helped OELMA represent at the National level! Whether you presented a session, volunteered at the OELMA booth, wore your red Ohio School Librarian shirt, or helped out of state attendees in any way--thank you so much! Many librarians commented on what an awesome network of school librarians we have-and how FUN we all are (which is so true)! Thanks to Conference Co-Chair and OELMA Past President Deb Logan, as well as Local Arrangements Chairs Susan Yutzey and Liz Deskins for all their dedication to make this conference a success on the national scale! 

As we transition to our 2016 Board of Directors, I would like to also thank all of our 2015 Board of Directors for their service to OELMA at the state level.  Our Board works very hard and will continue to work for you all year long to be a voice for you and we are planning some exciting professional development for you already in 2016-so stay tuned! This newsletter will also feature some of those upcoming events, so be sure to mark them in your calendars now! 

If you have not renewed your OELMA membership for 2016, please do so as soon as you can! You will be receiving an email with information on how to renew your membership (if you are not having the dues deducted from your OEA membership). If you have any questions regarding your membership, please email us at  OELMA@assnoffices.com  and we can assist. Your membership dues are vital to the life and success of OELMA and the list-serv, publications, professional development, and network of librarians at your fingertips is worth every penny! If you know someone who is not an OELMA member please invite them to join as well-they will be a better school librarian as a result!

Thank you for your continued support of all things OELMA and I wish you all the very best in 2016--and a very happy holiday season to all!

Angela
2016 OELMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Susan Yutzey, Past President
As my four years on the OELMA Board of Directors draw to a close, I want to say "thank you" OELMA members for allowing me the privilege of serving on the Executive Board.  In reflecting on these four years, I'm reminded of the OELMA membership brochure logo "OELMA is working, changing, growing..."  I realize that "growing" does not necessarily mean "growing OELMA membership" as much as it means "growing through OELMA membership."  In 2012, when I retired from Upper Arlington City Schools and assumed the position of President-elect and Conference Chair, I thought how much more can I grow professionally?

What I did not anticipate during these past four years was the "5 of 8" and the potential for both personal and professional growth in an arena that frankly scared me.  Testifying in front of members of the State Board of Education and legislators on the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review; being interviewed on "All Sides with Ann Fisher" (WOSU) and "Sound of Ideas" (Cleveland Public Radio); being interviewed for the Columbus Dispatch article "School Districts in Ohio Cutting Librarians;" rallying in front of the Ohio Department of Education with school nurses, school social workers, school counselors as well as art, music, and physical education teachers.  Initially it was terrifying but with each experience I grew in confidence knowing that I had the evidence to back up my claims as well as the support of OELMA members who called me, e-mailed me, and testified with me.  I like to think that despite all my "years" working in higher education and K-12 education, I maintained a "growth mindset" and was ready to accept new challenges.

In a "growth mindset" people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work - brains and talent are just the starting point.  The growth mindset creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.  This "growth mindset" is what, I believe sets librarians apart from many professions.  It is why many of us entered this profession because we love to learn, we love to be challenged whether it's with a reference question or technology or a presentation.

For our new Board of Directors, accepting a position on the OELMA Board is their next opportunity for personal and professional growth.  Please join me in welcoming these new Board members:

President:  Liz Deskins - Library Media Specialist, Hilliard Bradley High School, Hilliard City Schools
I value the time I serve on the OELMA board for so many reasons.  It forces me to remain current in the school library world, know the trends and issues facing us, and contribute to the larger community.  But even more than that, it allows me to build collegial friendships with people around the state who truly understand my day to day work life!  At school, I am one of a kind, but on the OELMA board we are a community of school librarians who support and encourage one another.

President-elect: Kelly Silwani - Library Media Specialist, Orange Middle School, Olentangy School District
Being on the OELMA Board means so many different things to me.  It means I get to work with some of the finest librarians in the state of Ohio, it means I will make new contacts in every area of the school librarian world. . .vendors, teachers, administrators, technology leaders, writers, illustrators and manyothers.  It means I will learnnew teaching strategies, learn new ways to help my students, build resources, and learn new ways to help my building staff become better teachers.  In others words, I will grow.  I will grow in ways I have never dreamed.  I will grow in ways that will make me a better teacher, a better librarian and better person.  Being on the OELMA Board is a wonderful opportunity and I encourage everyone to take a seat at it and grow.  You will not regret it.

Treasurer: Lisa Barnes Prince (2nd term) - Library Media Specialist, Akron Public Schools
I am serving on my second term of treasurer for OELMA. Serving on the executive committee has been such a powerful way to network with and keep in touch with my librarian colleagues. I don't know where I would be without the collective brain behind our organization. If I have questions or need ideas I only have to send a message on the Listserv and I get what I need. I also look forward to our meetings in Columbus where I get to touch base with everyone in person as opposed to electronically. I am honored to have been elected to my second term.
 
Northeast Regional Director:  Jenni Holt - Library Media Specialist, Willoughby-Eastlake School District
As OELMA's Northeast Regional Director, I am looking forward to collaborating with colleagues from across the state.  The opportunity to organize events and plan professional development opportunities excites me.  I am also excited to advocate for our profession and to keep up with all of the trends and new technologies that are impacting our current professional landscape.
 
East Regional Director:  Susan Mongold - Library Media Specialist, Woodridge Local Schools
South Regional Director: Andrea Owens - US/MS Technology & Media Services Coordinator, Cincinnati Country Day, Cincinnati
Sharing our challenges, sharing our strategies and sharing our successes strengthens all of our efforts to prepare students for ever-evolving learning environments. I look forward to working with this inspiring group of professionals to continue building awareness of the essential role of school librarians.
 
Central Regional Director: Kris Konik - Library Media Specialist, Heritage Middle School, Westerville City Schools
I am very excited for the opportunities that being on the OELMA Board afford me both personally and professionally.  Often media specialists work on their own islands with little interaction with others in our field.  Networking with others and working to strengthen our connections are what I am most looking forward to in the next two years.  
 
Northwest Regional Director: Library Media Specialist, Laura Franck - Perrysburg School District
I was wisely encouraged by my mentor during my first year as a part-time library media specialist to join OELMA and my membership has proven to be invaluable throughout my career. Serving on the OELMA Board will provide opportunities for me to grow professionally and to forge connections with professionals statewide. Although stepping into a leadership role on the board is outside my comfort zone, I feel it is important for all of us to contribute and build upon the amazing work of previous board members to support our profession, as well as Ohio students and staff.  
 
West Regional Director: Kim Hamlin - Library Media Specialist, Little Miami Intermediate, Little Miami School District
Happy Holidays and an Exciting New Year to the West Region members of OELMA. As a classroom teacher of over 20 years, I've not seen such passion for ensuring advocacy for the art of library services and literary outreach to students as I have from the many OELMA members I have met over the past several years. After recently meeting with Krista Guy and other OELMA members, I know that I will gain the valuable opportunity of learning and collaborating with the other members of the West Region that will help me meet my personal and professional goals of a Library Media Specialist. I look forward to meeting with you during this coming year at local meet and greets where we can share our accomplishments and brainstorm new ideas. 
FIND YOUR PASSION!
Liz Deskins
Find your passion!  That is my theme for 2016.  As we begin a new year there are some exciting possibilities on the horizon, including the passage of the new ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) and its positive implications for school libraries.   My challenge to each of you is to figure out what makes you passionate in your own library world.  Is it literacy?  You are that person who loves getting that perfect book in the hands of a student.  Your teachers and friends always ask you about what to read next.  You can collaborate with staff to integrate literature into cross-curricular units.    Is it new technology?  You are that person.  You are on your way to becoming the"tech go to" person for your building.  You frequently get emails from teachers, friends, and even family members to help with those pesky computer issues.   Or is it creating a flexible, responsive teaching and learning space from your existing library?  You are building that awesome makerspace and rearranging your space to best meet the needs of your learners. Whatever it is, be passionate, get active, and share what you know with others. We are OELMA and we are only as strong as our membership.
I know so many of you have great talents to share, please consider sharing them with us.  As we begin our restructuring of the OELMA governing structure, think about what strength you can offer, or at least be ready to say YES when we call for your help.
LitCon 2016
Lori Guerrini
Calling ALL Middle School and High School Teacher Librarians...

  Let's-Get-Excited!!

Make Plans to Attend OELMA's Inaugural Event...

 
LitCon 2016
Discover, Share and Enjoy Teen Literature         
May 17, 2016
Perry High School, Perry, Ohio
 
OELMA is breaking the mold and presenting this AWESOME event and we're inviting you, teachers, public librarians and for the first time in OELMA history, students, to attend a day of everything YA!
 
Announcing our amazing lineup of LitCon 2016 Authors:
 
With special guests:

Why should you come to LitCon? Why should you bring students? Why should you invite teachers? Because we think you will answer YES to these questions!
  1. Do you love teen and YA literature?
  2. Do you have students who love reading teen and YA books?
  3. Do you wish you could bring teen and YA authors to your school but just can't find the funding?
  4. Do you wish you could know more about writing teen and YA books?
  5. Would you love to have your students and teachers attend workshops led by authors and writing experts?
  6. Would you love to meet amazing teen and YA authors in person?
  7. Would you, your students and teacher colleagues love to get books signed by amazing authors?
  8. Wouldn't you, your students and teacher friends LOVE to get dressed up as your favorite teen or YA book character AND hang around with other people dressed as their favorite character?
  9. Wouldn't you love to provide a fun AND educational literary opportunity for your students and teachers?
  10. Wouldn't you love to go on a field trip to an amazing event after all the standardized and AP tests are completed?
  **Save the Date for LitCon 2016:  Tuesday, May 17, 2016**
NEW  Location:  Perry High School, 1 Success Blvd, Perry, OH 44081
 
Registration will be limited, so make plans now to attend LitCon 2016.
 
More information, including a LitCon 2016 website and registration information coming soon. Keep watching your OELMA communications.
PROFESSIONALISM
Karen Gedeon, Secretary 
I had a hard time even finding a title for this article because it can fit under so many categories: professionalism, readers' advisories, censorship just to name a few.  But I chose professionalism because that is, in the end what really upset me.
 
We've all been there, especially if you work in the middle grades:  you have content which is appropriate for older more mature readers, but not even close for your younger readers.  What do you do?  The topic has been on the listserv lately.  I have discussed it with my language arts teachers (well some of them, we'll get to that in a minute), my principals (I work in two buildings), my aides, some students and parents as well.  Until a few weeks ago the mature reading material was housed on shelves free for eighth graders and sixth/seventh graders with parental approval.  My thought behind that was as a parent I want to know if my sixth or seventh grader is reading John Green.  Yes, I said John Green and no, I did not put those in the collection, I inherited them which exasperated the problem.
 
As I mentioned this has been an ongoing conversation as to the best way to handle these items. Until a better way could be determined, it remained status quo.  Enter the FAC, Faculty Advisory Committee, a place where staff can lodge a complaint with administration if an issue cannot be resolved by other means.  Needless to say I was quite surprised to see one of my media centers was the center of a FAC complaint in November for censorship regarding this shelf as not one staff member from that building had approached me to discuss an alternative to the current policy.  So after several meetings with the building principal and the director of technology (my boss) we sat down with all interested staff members to finally discuss the matter.
 
Well I'm sure you can guess by now that meeting was rather tense, but there was an agreed upon follow-up which the accusing teacher did not follow - ugh!  So the principal, technology director and I continued to work to find an acceptable solution to this problem.  What we found was that even though we do feel parents should know what their child is choosing to read, we have no legal ability to even require a note from parents.  The fact that the items were available to some without parent approval and some with parent approval (we called it PG-13) is against previous court decisions and not something that principal wanted to take on.  In the end we put up the following signs: 



which is totally fine by me.  It's just the way we got to that decision that really irks me.  So to bring this story back to its title of professionalism.  If the staff member who was so upset with this policy had come to me in the first place I am sure we could have come to an acceptable resolution.  It probably would have been the exact same one actually, but the way my colleague chose to bring this issue to light tells me more about her character than I care to know.  It also has reminded me, as someone who is looked on as a leader in the district, to always remain professional and keep emotions out of situations such as this or I might end up with her character traits one day. 
INFOhio UPDATE
Emily Rozmus 
From Blizzards to Substitutes, These Bags Have Lesson Planning Covered
Please let your faculties know that the 2015-16 Instructional "Bags" from INFOhio for K-12 are here. Use these lessons in the classroom, or include them in blizzard bags, in substitute folders, or any time you need a plug-and-play lesson.
Each bag includes:
  • A complete, customizable research unit with four, self-contained lesson plans with assessments and activities.
  • A teacher guide with differentiation tips, standards alignments, extension activities, cross-curricular options, technology skills supported, and time needed to complete the lessons.
  • Materials for in-class instruction and home exploration.
  • Information about the career cluster covered in the unit along with links to related Career Connections on the ODE website.
The unit themes are:
Grades K-1          Things That Go
Grade 2                Animals and Their Caretakers
Grade 3                Doctors, Dentists, and Health Helpers
Grades 4-5          Engineering the Future
Grades 6-8          Money, Money, Money! The World of Finance
Grades 9-12        Tech Careers: Coding and Beyond
Find them all under the Bags button on the INFOhio Toolkit: https://www.infohio.org/educators/library/toolkit/bags

ISearch Local Rolling Out Statewide
The project to create local instances of ISearch for libraries that use INFOhio's SisiDynix ILS is underway. Each ITC was invited to submit 10 catalog instances for the first round of configuration. So far 22 districts are published, 20 are out for final testing, 30 are being configured, and 7 ITCs are ready for configuration. When ISearch is configured locally, it searches a school's catalog at the same time it searches INFOhio's digital resources, including eBooks and digital videos. Because ISearch makes searching so much easier, database content use soared when ISearch launched in October 2014. Between October 2014 and June 2015, resources available through ISearch had a 121 percent increase in full-text content views compared with the same time last year. We expect ISearch Local will generate even higher use.

Treasures for You from Treasure Mountain
As a prelude to the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) national conference held in Columbus this year, INFOhio hosted the 22nd Treasure Mountain Research Retreat. Treasure Mountain draws the most innovative practitioners, researchers and thought leaders from around the country to delve into the changing role of school libraries in student success. This year's theme was The Library Learning Commons-Start a Revolution!
 
The more than 80 participants did much more than just talk about grand ideas. They shared ways the Library Learning Commons is at work right now in their schools, and you can review that information in the Proceedings Papers available on the INFOhio website. Topics covered include:
  • Ways to introduce primary grade students to programming while reinforcing literacy and numeracy skills.
  • How simply rearranging library shelving and furniture and making small policy changes created an environment where students want to spend more time in the library exploring topics that interest them.
  • New ideas for co-teaching with your faculty.
If you're interested in learning even more about Learning Commons and the history and purpose of the biennial Treasure Mountain Research Retreat, take a look at the Treasure Mountain news item, The Library Learning Commons--Start a Revolution, on the INFOhio website. 
WEST REGION - WINTER 2015
Krista Guy & Kim Hamlin
Happy Holiday s
 
A special note of thanks to OELMA members for your hard work and dedication on a daily basis. We hope you take time to enjoy your upcoming winter holiday and plan to rejuvenate yourselves by celebrating with friends and family, sipping a cup of hot chocolate while greeting the great book that awaits you, and simply having fun and relaxing.  Furthermore, as you prepare to guide your students and staff on refreshing library services for the 2016 academic school year, please take time to reflect on the lifelong impact that libraries continue to make on a local, state, and a national level.  Your daily interactions with all educational stakeholders are critical, including students and their families, teachers, your building administration, central office administration, and a range of community trailblazers. According to Todd (2015), "we are reminded of the central focus of evidence-based practice, school librarians' evidence of their practice, and the urgent need to build a compelling and diverse portfolio of local evidence deeply linked to the learning agenda of the school" (p.11). Library advocacy is not merely an educational buzzword, for if we don't tell our library stories of making the difference, who will? Let's agree to "show and tell" our school library stories. Enjoy your holidays!

Todd, R. J. (2015). Evidence-based practice and school libraries: Interconnections of evidence, advocacy, & actions. Knowledge Quest, 43(3), 8-15. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1643157876?accountid=458

EAST REGION - WINTER 2015
Lisa Garrison & Kris Baker 
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! I don't know if you have seen the book tree pictures that have been floating around social media this year. Basically it's a Christmas tree made out of books. I had the art teacher at my school send it to me in early November.
 Then some friends and family shared it with me throughout the month. Finally the school nurse tagged me in the picture over Thanksgiving. I knew I needed to attempt this in my library! I was able to talk the art teacher into helping me. I pulled lots of books off of the shelves and we began putting together the tree...  Only to have what looked like a pile of books on the floor. Bummer. We tried a few more times before realizing that it just wasn't going to work. We're not entirely sure why because it looked so simple. So, we tried a different approach. I have a small round table next to the bench that I read stories to the students on. We made a small book Christmas tree next to my bench. The kids love it as do the staff and parents!
Lisa Garrison
East Region
My high school library had an addition added to one side in the 80s.  That same carpet, which almost shares the same birth year as me, is still covering the floor of my library.  Faded, stained and slightly smelly it stretches from wall to wall in my room.  My question has always been about bringing students into the library.  How can I get them in there?  How can I keep them coming back?  Well, obviously it isn't for the decor--even if vintage is making a comeback. 

 I found the answer in our art teacher, Mr. Scott Kline.  He has a talent for showcasing student artwork.  This semester, small groups of students from his art classes are working on installation pieces for the library.  
The latest pieces have really sparked  some interest from the student body.   Imagine my surprise as I unlocked the door and found a life sized  sculpture wearing a gas mask guarding the front door.   What about looking up to see a dozen painted umbrellas suspended from the ceiling?  It is refreshing and inviting, despite the lack of luster in the rest of the room.
 
The students have incorporated literature and technology into their pieces too.  Recently, we were able to make a display of a collage made from  The Raven  by Poe.  We placed books around the display and have had many of them checked out.  In addition, one talented student created a three dimensional  painting using recycled computer parts.  The creativity is on display in the library.


So, in the end, look to your own students to make your space more inviting and friendly. An art gallery is a great way to hide the minor imperfections and dated furnishings!




Kris Baker
Field Local Schools
NORTHEAST REGION- WINTER 2015
Michelle Smart 
H appy Holidays to everyone!  So far a nice mild winter to start the season.  It was a treat to be able to attend the AASL meeting in Columbus in November. The breakout sessions, author talks and networking were just a few perks.   
The Exhibitor Hall had a lot to offer as well.  A Makerspace area was set up that I explored.  After my exploration, I returned to my school and purchased a set of robots for my library classroom that I tried while at the conference.  Ozobots (little robots) are a STEM tool for children, you can use apps and tablets with them, but it is not necessary to make them work.  They come with a set of markers, and by using the different colored markers, you program the robot to move along a course.  I have been doing more with coding during my library lessons with 4th and 5th graders and felt this would be a fun addition.  Ozobots come with teacher resources and idea lesson plans--looking forward to using more of them in the upcoming year.  Look for more information to come in 2016 as I try them out!

What I am reading:
Professional Reading:  Teach like a Pirate by Dave Burgess.  If you are looking for some inspiration and to re-ignite that passion for teaching that you may have lost, this book is an excellent read.
 
Enjoyment Reading:
Just finished Confessions of an Imaginary Friend a memoir by Michelle Cuevas (RL 5.2 IL 3-6).  A very funny story of Jacques Papier who discovers that he is imaginary and has to rethink his purpose in life.  I listened to the audiobook and loved it because it is done with a french accent --perfect for the characters and story.  Similar to this you might also like Crenshaw by Applegate and Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by DiCamillo.
Ohio Educational Library Media Association
17 South High St. - Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43215-3458
This information is provided exclusively for OELMA members
PAGE UP / Oelma@assnoffices.com WEBSITE